England demand ‘full apology’ from Butt over match-fixing claims

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have demanded a ‘full and unreserved apology’ from Pakistan chairman Ijaz Butt after his claims that the England team were involved in match-fixing during the recent one-day series.

Claims: PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said England had fixed a match against Pakistan

Last week, Butt claimed he had heard ‘loud and clear’ suggestions that England players had accepted ‘enormous amounts of money’ to delberately lose the third one-day international against Pakistan at the Oval.

However, the ECB have since strenuously denied the allegations – and have now threatened legal action against Butt if he does not say sorry for his comments.

In a statement, the English game’s governing body said: ‘The ECB and the PCA today confirmed that a pre-action letter has been sent on behalf of the England cricket team to Ijaz Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, following his allegations that the England cricket team were involved in fixing the outcome of the third one-day international between England and Pakistan, played at The Brit Oval on September 17th 2010.

‘The letter seeks a full and unreserved apology.

‘Mr Butt has been advised that if a satisfactory response is not received, legal proceedings will be commenced against him without further notice.’

England had threatened to pull out of the rest of the series following Butt’s comments – which followed allegations from a British newspaper that Pakistan had been caught deliberately bowling no-balls, known as ‘spot-fixing’.

However, the remaining two matches went ahead as planned, with the home side winning the decider at Southampton’s Rose Bowl by 121 runs to seal a 3-2 series victory.

The police investigations into allegations Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were part of the fixing scam during the recent Test series are ongoing.

The trio, who maintain their innocence, have been suspended by the International Cricket Council while a fourth player, Wahab Riaz, was interviewed before being unconditionally released by police.